With all the media drama surrounding what we should look like post-baby, it can't be too easy to just enjoy your nine months of joy before the real hard work starts.

The best way to get through enjoying your pregnancy is to remember the life you're creating, but for those other days, here are some safe tips to aid you on your journey back to the old you.

Body wraps

A series of detoxing body wraps might be a great way to relieve the body of excess water retention, air and bloating. Sometimes wearing a compression garment can be uncomfortable so if you're in too much pain after a C-section or too uncomfortable all together, visit a salon that specialises in body wrap courses.

They generally last between eight and ten sessions and help the body to naturally relieve itself of excess water retention, which is usually the culprit. Most of these wraps contain products that are safe for you to use while breast feeding and can be done within four weeks after giving birth. Exfoliations are usually included, but if not then opt for this as an added extra.

Having your skin exfoliated helps open up the pores of your skin, releasing toxins that become trapped between the muscles and fat cells. This is also a great way to get your skin to feel good, which in turn will make you feel good. Losing the baby weight slowly is always a better option than doing it quickly.

Topical creams

Before you delve into the nearest salon or supermarket to purchase every firming, fat-fighting or weight-reducing cream, oil or lotion, consider the following:

* are you still breast feeding

* have you experienced any ill feeling during your pregnancy

* has you skin become sensitive in any way, developed an ailment like mild eczema or dermatitis

Not all of the available products on the market contain ingredients that sink right into your blood stream, but many do. Beta hydroxy acids (BHA), alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), glycolic acids, retinoids (Retino-A) salicylic acid – all these are ingredients that affect your body and can be harmful to the baby during and after pregnancy.

Breast feeding should also be a concern because whatever you place in your body will be transferred to baby. Creams and oils containing the above mentioned are highly absorbent because they are so highly effective. It's safer to wait till after breast feeding to start using those.

Excessive dieting and the effects it has on your body during pregnancy are overwhelming to say the least. It's been proven that women who try and stay slim just before attempting to fall pregnant and who diet and workout excessively during and after pregnancy stand at a higher risk of ruining their baby's immune system. For once the fat in our body is a great thing.

There is a reason why you are meant to pile on the kilos and it's simply because your baby needs the good bacteria and nutrients that your body already has stored in its fat cells to help cushion them from poor birth weight, low immune systems, bacterial infections after birth and an inability be 100% healthy.

You pass on everything to your little one so be careful not to skip certain meals in an attempt to stay skinny. Opt for a walk to work off a meal rather than a hectic gym class.

Drink lots of water to keep skin taut and your system functioning. Avoid the urge to skip on carbohydrates because this is one of the main things your growing baby will need from your body.

Carbohydrates become our body's natural blanket and your baby needs to build a blanket of their own. So say yes to potatoes, in moderation of course.

Body binding

This is a great way and an old remedy for solving the lumps and bumps, but wait till you are completely comfortable before attempting this. If you've had a C-section, give your tummy a chance to heal. The discomfort won't just make you miserable, but your baby will pick up on it too.

Rather stick to mild methods of this activity by wearing support underwear instead of the bands used after liposuction. Apply a mild tightening cream and then use your band. Also try apply your cream and wrapping your skin in cling wrap for 20 minutes to help detox in the comfort of your own home.

Either way, be sure to stay as comfortable as possible and to be as safe as possible for the sake of your baby and getting back into your old jeans.

Visit Beauty South Africa for more information